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6. CONSTRUCTED FARM WETLANDS
The storage of slurry on farms is governed by the Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil Regulations 2003, and they require farmyard run-off to be collected in slurry storage. There is considerable evidence that constructed farm wetlands are an effective means of treating lightly contaminated farmyard water, and the Executive is inviting views on whether the requirement in the SSAFO Regulations should be amended to allow farmyard run-off to be collected in constructed farm wetlands ( CFWs).
SEPA is preparing advice on the design specifications for CFWs. The wetlands would be required to perform a treatment function to ensure that the water discharging from them to the water environment is of good quality. Allowing lightly contaminated water to be treated in this way would have environmental advantages. It would reduce the volume of liquid that has to be collected in slurry storage, thus either reducing the need for greater capacity or enabling the farmer to make better use of existing capacity. In reducing the amount of water that has to be spread, it would potentially be reducing the costs and the risks involved in the storage and spreading of slurry.
Q5. Do you consider that it should be permissible for lightly contaminated water from farm steadings to be collected in constructed farm wetlands which would provide a measure of treatment?
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